Ciaran O’Brien, a Generation adidas player, became the first Rapids rookie to take to the pitch in a Rapids season opener since 2005. O’Brien is the highest MLS draft pick in UCSB history. Ciaran comes from a rich family tradition of soccer. His father, Fran, is a former national team player for
Ireland and played in the NASL and MISL, while his brother Leighton was drafted by the New England Revolution in 1999 and played with the San Jose Clash and Real Salt Lake. 

2009 MLS: Went on loan with the Austin Aztex (USL-1) in June and appeared in 3 games… Loan was transferred to the Montreal Impact (USL-1) from July till the end of the MLS season…Appeared in 13 games and scored 1 goal and added 2 assists…Did not appeared in any playoff games for the Impact, as club won 2009 USL-1 Championship...

2008: O’Brien participated in the annual Generation adidas overseas tour that included three matches against English Premier League reserve teams and training at the Chelsea Academy…O’Brien also played with the USL Seattle Sounders while on loan from the Rapids from July 28 and September 5. 

College: The most widely recruited transfer player in the nation, O’Brien comes to UCSB after a very successful freshman campaign with the Toreros...Appeared in a total of 19 games and started 14 for a San Diego team that finished with a 10-8-1 overall record and a 5-6-1 mark in West Coast Conference play...Was third on the squad with six goals and four assists for 16 points in 2006...A NSCAA Freshman All-American, O’Brien was also named to the All-WCC second team...Earned West Coast Conference co-freshman of the year honors for his performance.

O’Brien proved to be an excellent addition for the Gauchos in 2007 after transferring from the University of San Diego…Was the Big West Conference’s leading scorer with 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists and was named the Big West Midfielder of the Year for his performance…Recorded two assists in Santa Barbara’s 4-3 loss at Ohio State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 2 and earned Soccer America and College Soccer News national team of the week honors on three occasions…A centerpiece of UCSB’s offense, O’Brien either scored or assisted on 12 of the Gauchos’ last 21 goals in 2007…Appeared in a total of 19 games and started 14 for San Diego in 2006…Was third on the squad with six goals and four assists for 16 points…A NSCAA Freshman All-American, he was also named to the All-WCC second team…Earned West Coast Conference co-freshman of the year honors for his performance.

Personal: Business economics major...Would like to own his own business some day...When he is not playing soccer he is usually knitting...He cannot do without his bowling ball...Before a game he likes to listen to Prince...Roots for Liverpool and his favorite athlete LeBron James...Starfire is his favorite place to play...His favorite movie is “Dumb and Dumber”...Old Man and the Sea is his favorite book...”Pac Man” is his favorite video game…Played center midfield for four years at Decatur High School in Tacoma, Wash., where he earned NSCAA All-American honors...Tallied 38 goals and 29 assists for the Gators...Was a First Team All-South Puget Sound League selection all four years…Named the league most valuable player as a sophomore and then again as a senior...Selected as the Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior season at DHS...Also played golf for the Gators as a freshman and sophomore and played football as a senior…Was a member of FC United from 2002-07…Amassed 70 goals and 59 assists during his six years with the club…Led the squad to a regional championship and to the national title match in 2004…Has an older brother Leighton and older sister Erika…Son of Fran and Valerie O’Brien.